list.in.to.chicago this week: 05.17.2004

For a full-on rant about this weekend's MECA conference, click here. I know it's new and unproven and all that, but the lack of a single word of press from the dailies is astounding. I'm convinced that there's a core group of people in the Chicago scene that just doesn't want these sorts of things to succeed, and Mssrs. Kot and DeRogatis are a big part of that group.

In other news, big ups to The Reader for separating out the "new" and "updated" listing in the Early Warnings. Score one for user friendliness! Now if we could just get Gunther Murphy's to fix their damn display ad so it's actually legible...

Pick of the week
Quite a few to choose from. Kimotion on Tuesday (Martyr's) will be "statistically dense" in a good way, with the added bonus of a celebrity guest star. Tortoise (Thursday, Metro) is remarkably fun to watch live when you consider that the music is so textural, in that it's cool seeing how they make all those sounds actually work on stage. Then you've got local favorites -- mine, anyway -- Ivory Wire and Drive both at Elbo Room this weekend.

list.in.to.COZ
We say goodbye to Patrick Hasbrook on Wednesday at McGee's, then say hello once again to Diver, with shows on Friday (Vaughan's) and Sunday (Cullen's). And a lot more to come.

Recap
I think the debut of the instrumental tune went well enough on Tuesday. I don't know that anyone was actually listening, but that's how that gig goes. Caught The Changes on Friday, and for once, I think they (the sound guy, not the band so much) got the mix right. There's always something not quite right with the lead guitar, and while there was maybe a lot of reverb this time, the sound blended a lot better even if you couldn't always make out the notes in the leads. Anyway, good crowd on hand to wish Darren a happy birthday.

5.17   monday
Dick Dale with The San Andreas Fault, DJ Mike Miller (Double Door)
Yeah, a lot of his songs sound the same. When you're as dominant and recognizable in your genre, as Dale is with surf guitar, I don't think anyone is going to hold it against you.

5.18   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
It was bound to happen sooner or later. I think we actually forgot to get one guy up on stage last week. We're sorry. Come out this week and see if a Reader classified gets more people out of the woodwork.

Kimotion (Martyr's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Kimo Williams' big band is not like any other out there that I know of. The compositions are often described as one part Frank Zappa, one part Jimi Hendrix, and that's a fair assessment. To that end, the band is pretty killer, including longtime l.i.t.c. favorites Chris Siebold on guitar and Tom Hipskind on drums. This time around, actor Gary Sinise will be guesting on bass. I think Sinise may have been at Berklee College of Music with Williams and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, who won't be on this date, but who's composition "John's Blues" will get it's live debut here.

5.19   wednesday
Patrick Hasbrook (McGee's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
This is it. Pat's last show before heading west! See him off and make sure he starts his trip with a massive hangover!

Cypress Hill (House of Blues)
I've been digging these guys ever since they guested on The Simpsons, more so after "Rock Superstar" from their Skull & Bones record.

Velvet Revolver with Silvertide (Riviera)   SOLD OUT!
Make your own Scott Weiland drug joke. You know you want to. I'm just amazed this band has finally gotten to the point where they could tour, and I guess it's good to see Weiland and company can draw after being out of the limelight for a while. Especially since I can't say that I've actually heard any radio play since the song on the Hulk soundtrack.

5.20   thursday
Tortoise with Pelican, Beans (Metro)
Apparently drummer John Herndon injured his hand skateboarding. So while skateboarding may not be a crime (or so I've read on t-shirts and bumper stickers), it's not always a good idea for a drummer, as using your hands to break the inevitable fall can be detrimental to your career. And I hesitate to call Herndon just a 'drummer,' seeing as how nearly everybody in the group multi-tasks better than Windows XP.

Phil Woods with the DePaul University Big Band (Jazz Showcase)
Woods has long been considered one of the most prominent "disciples" of alto legend Charlie Parker, although it's a bit weird that he went so far as to marry Parker's widow. Not necessarily untoward or anything, just weird.

Chris Gilmartin with Dylan Rice, The New Breed (Wise Fools Pub)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Hey, look! A new 'friend of Coz'! I just started working with Gilmartin a month or so ago, at which point we realized we had a bunch of musical friends in common. Eventually, I might even be able to tell you what he sounds like, but not just yet.

5.21   friday
Diver (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Finally, we're back on stage, if you can call the four-inch high platform in the corner of the back of the room that the whole band doesn't even fit on a "stage." And we might not even use it! Anyway, we've finally got some new tunes, including Robbie Williams, INXS and some more from the Stones.

My Morning Jacket with M. Ward (Metro)
All I really know about these guys is that they're from Kentucky, and they LOVE reverb. That's probably enough to go on.

Scottinho and Cash with Vinicius Cantuaria (HotHouse)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Scott's been doing some duo shows with percussionist Chris Cash as of late. This time, it's opening for Cantuaria, who the London Times described as melding Brazilian music with electronica and "the post-modern anarchy of the downtown New York scene," whatever that means. Sounds interesting, though.

Ivory Wire with Blackmaker, 19 Wheels, Gelheads (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This is the first night of Blackmaker's CD release weekend, with the boys in Ivory Wire breaking in their new bass player as part of the festivities.

5.22   saturday
The Greyboy Allstars Reunion (House of Blues)
From a practical standpoint, this band was a precursor of sorts to Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. It's a nice blend of jazz and funk, with a definite retro feel throughout. This is the second of two nights at HOB.

Drive with Blackmaker, Honest Pod, Callisto (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Night two of the Blackmaker thing, and I don't think I've ever actually heard Blackmaker. That said, I can once again recommend the show on the strength of the supporting cast, this time including URT producer Joshua Shapera's Drive and Callisto, whose singer (?) used to come to Vaughan's every once in a while and play Silverchair, much to Tony's chagrin.

5.23   sunday
Diver (Cullen's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Did I mention the new songs? Cullen's on a Sunday night is pretty packed, so it's a good time, even if I do have to go to work Monday morning now.